Jeremiah 31:4

4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.

Jeremiah 31:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:4

Again, I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of
Israel
The same with "all the families of Israel", ( Jeremiah 31:1 ) ; who, when converted, will be espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin; have a sincere affection for him; unfeigned faith in him, and purely worship him; receiving the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and submitting to the ordinances of it; and then will the church, comparable to a building, consisting of lively stones, laid upon the foundation Christ, which is fallen down, and lies in ruins, be rebuilt, and none shall hinder it; and a glorious building it will be, and will continue so, when its stones are laid with fair colours; its foundations with sapphires; its windows made of agates; its gates of carbuncles; and all its borders of pleasant stones, ( Isaiah 54:11 Isaiah 54:12 ) ( Acts 15:16 ) ; thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets;
or timbrels, instruments of music, such as women used at times of public joy and mirth, ( Exodus 15:20 ) ( Judges 11:34 ) ( 1 Samuel 18:6 ) ; which became them, and were very ornamental to them; and their playing on these was usually attended with dancing; hence it follows: and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry;
phrases expressive of spiritual joy, which will be in the hearts of the saints, and expressed by the behaviour of them at the time of the conversion of the, Jews, which will be the marriage of the Lamb; and when the bride will be ready, being adorned with the robe of Christ's righteousness, and with the graces of his Spirit, and be brought into his presence, accompanied with a chorus of virgins her companions, undefiled ones, having harps in their hands, singing the Lamb's new song; see ( Revelation 14:2-4 ) ( 19:7-9 ) ( Psalms 45:13-15 ) .

Jeremiah 31:4 In-Context

2 Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,
3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit.
6 For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: "Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or [adorn yourself with]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.